St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-05-27
COMMODORE W. F. DAVIDSON.


minutes before breath left him. The
primal cause of his death was heart dis
ease, resulting in paralysis, and those
who know him best assert that the fatal
turn was brought ON by overwork. He
had been in poor health for
several months, and was urged
by his friends to take vaca-
ton, which he had partly made
up his mind to do. He was at his bust
ness Office on Tuesday and labored hard
all day. He went to his house that
night, complaining that he was very
tired and went to bed early. His
serious illness was noted in yesterdays
GLOBE. He aWoke a little before 10
O'Clock on Tuesday night, experiencing
great distress in breathing, and insisted
on being assisted to his feet, thinking
if he could stand up he could get his
breath better. Mrs. Davidson helped
him up, but greater degree of eX-
hauStion enSued from the effort, and he
laid down in intense agony and became
unconscious. Drs. Hand and Murphy
were summoned at once, and between
stroke of paralysis, which dead
ened the entire left side of his
body. He continued in great distress
all.day Wednesday, although regaining
consciousness early that morning. He
talked occasionally during the day, but
his speech was greatly hindered by the
paralysis. The physicians had little
hope of his recovery, but it was thought
possibly he might rally and live for some
time. Wednesday night he was asked
by DR.. Hand if he did not wish to make
will, and in the presence of Col. j. II.
Davidson, his nephew, and q. few
his
IMMENSE ESTATE.
very briefly naming his executors. The
purport Of the will is not to be made
public at present. About midnight
Wednesday his condition changed for
the worse, and recovery was despaired
Of The Commodore himself fully recog-
nized that he was at sdeath's door. TO
Col. j. III. Davidson, who had spent the
night with him, he talked freely of his
impending end, and when asked if he
was afraid to die, replied: ''No, not at
all. Why should | be afraid to die?''
the Christian religion, which he had
avowed in his early manhood. He was
in great pain all day yesterday, and
gradually sinking up to the last mo-
ment. His brother, Capt. E. S. David
son, of La Crosse, was also present
yesterday, with his bereaved wife;
his son, Edward E., aged 26, and daugh-
ter, Miss Sally NJ. Davidson, aged IA.
his half-brothers, Jerry Davidson and
Robert Y. Davidson, OF st. Paul. The
deceased also leaves married sister
Davidson, half-brother, commanding
the steamer ''NVar Eagle" and hall
sister living in southern Ohio.
Commodore Davidson was plain man,
a self-made man, and essentially a
Western man. He accumulated great
wealth, estimated from S3,000,000 to
S5,000,00 q great part of which is in
st. Paul real estate. His title
of Commodore" arose from life
long identification with the river
traffic. in which he Esse from cabin boy
pOrtation line on the Mississippi river.
There is probably no other man living
who knew so well every turn and shall
low of the great Mississippi river, and
all of its varied tributaries. He cele
brated his cd birthday Feb. last. He
was born on farm in Lawrence
county, i'll Southern Ohio, Feb. 4, 1925
His father was a "locaP' Baptis
preacher, who earned his livelihood as {
canal DOatillal1 Oh Llle OclOUO ana OnlC
rivers On week days and eXp0unded re
hgion to
TIE EARLY SETTLERS
on Sundays. Like all pioneer preachers
the father reared large family, having
married three different times. William
was one of the elder sons of his frs
wife, and in his early boyhood accom-
panied his father up and down the rive
and learned the science of managing
craft. What education the commodore
received was of his own getting, for III
had the advantage of schooling but on
term. He.was practical boy, and grew
up practical man, with a liberal gn
derstanding of the value of money. BE
fore he had reached the age of 20 he ha'
launched for himself, runnin,
and acquiring tile ownership o
different Small craft On the Ohio ant
Big Sandy rivers. His ambition ant
his earnings grew, and he became tn
owner by purchase of two steamboat
plying the Ohio river from Cincinnati t
points Oh the lower Mississippi. 1t wa
IN the spring of 1856 that he turned TIL
Boat which he commanded up the cur
rent of the Mississippi, and landed il
St. Paul. He WAS impressed with tn
great future of the city, and after fey
trips down the river, purchased anotlie
boat and established line O
tranSpOI !ati3n up the Minnesot
river 10 ManEatO, and dow